A 55-YEAR-OLD former Conservative councillor, who became "infatuated" with a 13-year-old girl and sexually assaulted her was jailed for eight years today (Monday).

David Kirton, 55, formerly of Longbanks, Harlow, Essex, later of Stevenage, also admitted committing two other sexual offences on the girl during an eight-month period.

Kirton, who won his seat in the Staple Tye ward at the local elections in May last year but has since been suspended, sent texts and spoke to her on MSN telling her among other things: "Babe - you're a gorgeous woman."Fully Story and Source